It was suggested back in February that Kno was looking to back out of the hardware market, facing fast-moving and multiplying competition from mainstream tablet manufacturers. That would leave Kno free to focus on its partnerships with colleges and universities, and developing new software for the tablets Intel's OEM partners might come up with.

Meanwhile, Intel Capital and Advance Publications are believed to be leading a $30m investment round in Kno, which will focus its efforts on software for devices targeted at education users. Advance Publications owns Condé Nast.